Rakesh Ashthana takes charge as interim CBI director

Law Kumar Mishra

Patna  : CBI director Anil Kumar Sinha, a Bihar cadre IPS officer of 1979 batch, retired on December 2, 2016. He handed over charge to Rakesh Asthana, a Bihar born IPS of Gujarat cadre of 1984 batch. Asthana was appointed special director of CBI on April 7 this year.

Asthana, who has over five years more in the service, had been DIG in CBI earlier and had supervised the fodder scam investigations also. He was commissioner of Surat and Baroda cities and SP of Jamaar. He had his schooling at Netarhat School. Son of a teacher, Asthana is MA in history and diploma in management.

Department of Personal and Training on Friday issued a notification which said the competent authority has been given additional  charge of director of CBI to special director Rakesh Asthana. The director of CBI is appointed by a collegium consisting of the
Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, leader of opposition or largest party in opposition in Lok Sabha.
Outgoing director,Anil Sinha, was also from Bihar and was special director before he was appointed director succeeding another IPS from Bihar, Ranjit Sinha. During his tenure, Anil had supervised investigations of some important cases including Sheena Vora murder
case and Vijay Mallaya’s case of defrauding banks.